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In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Furthermore, three new combinations are proposed. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Lithophyllum okamurae has been widely reported in the Pacific Ocean with identification based on morpho-anatomical observations. Two infraspecific taxa, L. okamurae f. okamurae and f. angulare, described from Japan, have been recorded in the temperate region of Japan. We assessed branched Lithophyllum samples morphologically referable to L. okamurae using morpho-anatomical data and DNA sequences (psbA, rbcL and partial LSU rDNA) obtained from herbarium specimens, including type material, as well as recently field-collected material in Japan. The molecular analyses showed that these ‘L. okamurae’ samples contained two species: L. okamurae and a cryptic new species which we describe as L. neo-okamurae sp. nov. Because the holotype of L. okamurae f. angulare was conspecific with original material cited in the protologue of L. okamurae, it is a heterotypic synonym of L. okamurae f. okamurae. Lithophyllum okamurae and L. neo-okamurae were morphologically similar in having warty, lumpy and fruticose thalli and in often forming rhodoliths. Lithophyllum okamurae can be morpho-anatomically distinguished from L. neo-okamurae by the thallus with tapering or plate-like protuberances (knobby protuberances in the latter) and by having smaller tetrasporangial conceptacle chambers (167–314 μm; 248–380 μm in L. neo-okamurae). Our LSU rDNA sequence data from L. okamurae f. angulare (=L. okamurae f. okamurae) was identical to that of the type of L. margaritae, which has nomenclatural priority over L. okamurae. However, considering that psbA and rbcL sequences of L. margaritae type material could not be generated in the present study, we refrain, for the moment, from proposing the taxonomic synonymy between these two taxa until the status of L. margaritae and its synonyms from the type locality (Gulf of California) are clarified., This research was mainly supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 26850123, 17K07908) to AK.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Two new combinations are proposed. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.

International audience; Species of the genus Lithophyllum are important carbonate producers and bioconstructors. In recent years, molecular studies focusing on this genus have unravelled several striking cases of cryptic and pseudocryptic diversity. Lithophyllum racemus is a common non-geniculate coralline alga-forming rhodoliths in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Molecular phylogenies (psbA and coxI) reconstructed for some Mediterranean specimens morpho-anatomically assigned to L. racemus revealed two well-supported sister clades. Based on pairwise sequence divergences, we recognised these two clades as separate species, L. racemus and L. pseudoracemus sp. nov. The low number of specimens has not permitted any useful morpho-anatomical comparison between the species, and for now, only DNA sequencing permits separation. The discovery of L. pseudoracemus unravelled a new case of cryptic diversity in Mediterranean coralline algae, highlighting the substantially underestimated diversity of these seaweeds.

The main goal of quarry restoration is to convert degraded, unproductive areas into new, self-sustaining ecosystems that develop into highly natural environments. With the aim to individuate the best practices for restoring limestone quarries, we investigated the short-term effects on vegetation features and economic advantages of three restoration approaches. These approaches included tree and shrub planting, no herb layer, or a commercial seed mixture or hayseed. The different approaches were tested in a limestone quarry within the Botticino extractive basin (N-Italy). A donor grassland area of hayseed and a quarry area that had undergone spontaneous revegetation over a decade were used as control areas. We surveyed the vegetation plots to investigate the structure and the productivity of the herbaceous layers; collecting data on plant species cover, the mean plant height, the tree and shrubs mortality and biomass enabled us to perform gradient analysis. The main differences between the sites were due to biotic factors; specifically, vegetation cover was affected quite differently by the different restoration approaches. Restoration with commercial seed mixture resulted primarily in dense stands of Lolium perenne that caused an increase in shrub and tree mortality. Cost-benefit analysis showed that despite hayseed being the most expensive approach in terms of cost and time, it ensured higher species diversity, vegetation structure and greening. Our results highlighted that autochthonous plant materials can improve excavation-areas restoration by both contrasting the colonisation of non-native species and increasing natural regeneration and biodiversity levels.

The aim of this study was to give results about position of Lamyropsis microcephala within an already existing phylogeny of Lamyropsis genus on the Mediterranean area, by analyzing external transcribed spacer/internal transcribed spacer sequence data. The four Lamyropsis species considered in the model can be recognized as distinct taxa originated from successive migration/speciation events.

Aim Populations at the edge of a species' distribution range may differ substantially from central populations. Peripheral populations may have either a high evolutionary potential or be prone to extinction, but the processes driving these outcomes are still unclear. Peripheral plant populations have been the subject of numerous studies and reviews, with many focusing on their genetic characteristics. In this review, we consider the effect of marginality on demographic species-specific traits. Location World-wide. Methods We reviewed the literature based on direct comparisons between central and peripheral plant populations. Strict inclusion criteria were applied to avoid biased analysis that may arise as a result of inaccurate boundary considerations or inappropriate comparisons. We inferred from the published data whether a certain trait had a better performance in central or peripheral populations (reliability of the abundant centre hypothesis, ACH). Results There have not been enough studies on plant performance to allow for generalizations on the effects of marginality on plants. ACH expectations were not met in most cases and specific responses to marginality were observed at the species and population levels. Population and plant size more often met the ACH assumptions, suggesting that most geographically peripheral populations are also ecologically marginal. The availability of resources, the reproductive strategy, the level of ploidy and the ability to cope with interspecific competitors seem to drive the numerous exceptions to the ACH expectations. Main conclusions The large numbers of exceptions to the ACH expectations suggest that a new comprehensive theory is needed to explain the effects of marginality in plants and to identify any general patterns. From the theoretical point of view, we propose that population history and dynamics should be considered when attempting to explain the processes that occur in peripheral plant populations.

"The New Red List of the Italian Flora" includes all the Italian policy species and other species of known conservation concerns for a total of 400 taxa, 65% of which are threatened with extinction. The Red List is based on a huge georeferenced data-set useful for conservation purposes. © 2013 © 2013 Società Botanica Italiana.

This study investigated the conservation status of Marsilea quadrifolia, an endangered fern found in paddy fields, irrigation ditches and ponds. An evaluation at the European level based on IUCN criteria showed that the extent of occurrence (EOO) of M. quadrifolia has decreased from 5,930,000 km2 to 5,774,000 km2 during the past decade, whereas its area of occupancy (AOO) has decreased from 620 to 400 km2 (approximately 35.5%). These findings allowed the species to be upgraded from the IUCN classification of Near Threatened to Vulnerable. The agricultural chemical treatments seem to be the main extinction cause of M. quadrifolia, therefore we performed toxicological with 7 most common rice herbicides. Young plantlets were incubated for 96 h with each herbicide at three different concentrations: TQ (Tale Quale, chosen in accordance with the suggested dose for rice fields described on the product label), 1:100 and 1:1.000. Results suggested that survival of the plantlets depended on the herbicide and concentration used, and ranged between 0 and 80%, and no survival at ambient concentrations for 4 (Aura, Aura + Dash, Clincher and Viper) out of the 8 chosen herbicides. We conclude that herbicides represent one of the principal threats to the survival of this species. Finally, a DNA analysis using the AFLP approach was employed to identify the most suitable genetic pool for plant reintroduction efforts. The data show that the analysed populations of M. quadrifolia suffered from low genetic variability (Nei's gene diversity varied from 0.025 to 0.036). However, the analysis of the distribution of genetic variability suggested that 4 populations were characterised by different genetic traits that are useful in defining a genetic pool for plant conservation. This study highlights a strategy for implementing a plan of action for species growing in agro-ecosystems based on an integrated approach that is able to clarify the species conservation status, the principal threat factor and the genetic pool to be used for species conservation and reintroduction.

Endangered species with small and isolated populations has been a key topic of conservation biology studies in the last decade. Lamyropsis microcephala is among the most significant narrow endemic plants in the Mediterranean region, lying on the Gennargentu massif of the Sardinia island (Italy). Due to heavy threat factors, this species has rapidly become threatened with extinction. The inter-simple sequence repeat technique was used to assess the genetic variation and structure of the individuals growing in the four remnant localities known to date, with the aim to implement further conservation strategies. Results indicated a degree of differentiation among the four subpopulations, in particular for the Fonni one. The estimates of Nei's genetic diversity (H) ranged from 0.0563 (Fonni) and 0.1104 (Bau 'e Laccos). Analysis of molecular variance values showed that 53% of the total variation may be attributed to the individuals within subpopulations, while 47% is due to differences among subpopulations (P < 0.001). Results also highlighted a scarce gene flow (Nm = 0.503). © 2013 Societá Botanica Italiana.

Dry grasslands are of great interest for nature conservation in Europe, because they have a central role in the conservation of numerous rare and endangered species. In this study carried out in the Brenta mountain group (Italian alps), we investigated the effect of environmental factors mainly controlled by topography, on the biodiversity trends across different dry grassland habitats where the threatened alpine stenoendemic Erysimum aurantiacum grows. Plant community data and ecological factors were analysed by means of a multi-habitat CCA approach and by analysis of biodiversity gradients in 7 natural and semi-natural habitats. We found that species turnover and biodiversity patterns vary as a function of multi-factorial ecological gradients. For the single habitats, elevation gradient was the main factor explaining compositional variation, followed by inclination and proportion of exposed rock surface. Despite its endangered status, E. aurantiacum showed a relatively high degree of ecological plasticity across these semiarid grassland habitats that probably allows it to survive in different environments, including in some cases those impacted by human activities. This prompts for habitat- more than species-level conservation actions. According to their characteristics and threats, habitat-specific management practices are recommended for long term conservation of plant species communities in the different ecological niches. © 2013 The Authors. Nordic Journal of Botany © 2013 Nordic Society Oikos.

This work investigated the fingerprinting and phenotyping of Citrus germplasm; species selected were of historical importance belonging to Citrus limonimedica Lush. and its supposed ancestors, along with some other species of the Citrus genus. An integrated approach based on the exploitation of nuclear DNA content, morphological traits and molecular markers, such as RAPD fingerprints and ITS-based SNPs, was employed. We studied a core collection of 54 distinct accessions, including 43 genotypes of the Citrus species (18 species or supposed species) and 11 genotypes of the Poncirus genus, which was used as the reference outgroup. Morphological trait analysis and statistical analysis of DNA content and markers were useful for reconstructing a Citrus phylogeny. In particular, our experiments aimed at estimating the genetic variation within and the genetic relatedness among C limon (L.) Burm., C. limonimedica and C. medica L. to shed light on the hybrid origin hypothesis of C. limonimedica. The results of the multidisciplinary analyses allowed us to confirm a remarkable differentiation between Poncirus and Citrus genera and to highlight a close relationship among the three investigated Citrus species but a distinct difference between these three species and other species in the Citrus genus. RAPD fingerprints and ITS polymorphisms enabled us to point out a variation gradient between lemon and citron, with C. limonimedica as a possible intermediate species. Some accessions of C. medica and C. limonimedica that deviate from such a trend suggest recurrent introgression and/or hybridisation with other species of Citrus.